MANHATTAN, Kan. - After earning First-Team Academic All-Big 12 honors in the fall, Trisha Culbertson has added to her resume. With a 3.973 GPA, she was named to the 2003 Women’s Academic All-American Team by the Women’s Intercollegiate Cross Country Coaches Association, one of only eight athletes from the Big 12 to be given the honor.

The New Strawn, Kan. native majoring in Biology and Agricultural Engineering had an impressive season this past fall in which she won one race, and was the top K-State finisher in three other races. She also came in ninth in the NCAA District 5 Cross Country Championships, which, with her GPA, granted her Academic All-America status. She went on to race in the NCAA Championships, where she finished 165^th out of 252 competitors.

Culbertson has also had a great start to the 2004 outdoor track season finishing second in the 3,000 meter run at the Jim Click Shootout, and finishing first in the 5,000 meter run at the Miami Gatorade Invitational.

Big 12 Academic All-Americans

GPA     Name               Year       School

4.000   Serena Ramsey      Junior     Missouri

3.973  Trisha Culberton Junior    Kansas State

3.911   Amanda Bales       Sophomore  Missouri

3.882   Ann Gaffigan       Senior     Nebraska

3.866   Valerie Lauver     Sophomore  Missouri

3.463   Kathryn Handrup    Senior     Nebraska

3.451   Kayte Tranel       Junior     Nebraska

3.255   Anne Shadle        Junior     Nebraska